More than 100 people took advantage of a flu shot clinic held Tuesday, October 1 at The Oakridge School. Nurse Kim Campbell-Martinez organized the event and called it the most successful the school has ever seen in its 20 years of hosting the annual clinic.
"For a number of reasons, people think 'I never get sick' or 'I tend to stay healthy, so I don't need it' and they forgo getting a flu shot," said Nurse Campbell-Martinez. "However, Oakridge administrators do all they can to promote overall health and wellness, and in this case, partnered with Kroger Pharmacy to vaccinate 125 students, teachers, and parents. That's the highest number of people that we have ever served."
The flu shots were free to those who had their insurance cards, with most major carriers accepted. Otherwise, attendees paid a $25 fee. The shots were available to children ages 7 and older. Students under 18 were required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Oakridge parent Deme Cleveland took advantage of the flu shot clinic by getting a vaccination for herself, her son Zach ’22, and daughter Sammie ’24. “I loved the convenience of getting both kids their shots between sporting events and rehearsals," said Mrs. Cleveland. "The decision was made easier because I was able to get the shot also. It was very fast and the fact it was free made it even better.”
Science Teacher Elissa Eggleston also got her flu shot and commended Oakridge for partnering with retail and health care providers in the Arlington community to deliver the vaccinations. “My arm might get sore, but the shot is much better than the suffering involved when you contract the flu,” said Ms. Eggleston. “Besides, the Kroger pharmacist was very skilled when giving the shot; I hardly felt it.”
While seasonal flu viruses are detected year-round in the U.S., flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October.
Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May. The CDC table shows peak flu activity in the U.S. by month for the 1982-1983 through 2017-2018 flu seasons. The "peak month of flu activity" is the month with the highest percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza virus infection during that influenza season. During this 36-year period, flu activity most often peaked in February (15 seasons), followed by December (7 seasons), January (6 seasons) and March (6 seasons).
In addition to flu vaccinations, Oakridge makes available to every classroom hand sanitizer, boxes of tissue, and disinfecting wipes for cleaning counters, handles, computer keyboards, and other frequently touched surfaces where small droplets of flu can spread. Contact Nurse Kim Campbell-Martinez for more information about the flu shot clinic, other health care-related services, or for information about partnering with Oakridge for a healthier community at 817-451-4994 ext. 2714 or kcampbell@theoakridgeschool.org.